Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Paterson. I'm very happy to respond to that. In fact, I was asked a similar question this morning, and I made this point: we have laws in Australia in relation to national security information. We expect those laws to be observed by all citizens and by all entities. That is our position.

In relation to Mr Assange, we have taken the view that this matter had gone on for too long and, as the Prime Minister has said, nothing would be served by further incarceration of Mr Assange. I appreciate that there are a range of views in the Australian community about his actions, and some are very deeply felt. As foreign minister, I can say that we viewed it as our obligation to advocate on behalf of an Australian citizen.

As you would know, his passage home was enabled by the plea arrangements and the decision of an American court, which made its decision this week. That provided the pathway for his return home. Whatever people's views about these matters, the Australian government has taken the view for a very long time that this matter had gone on too long. That is why the Prime Minister made this a priority and why this was raised at all appropriate levels of the government, including by me.